Medway 5, Bellingham 2: Champs hold off challengers

As the defending Central Mass. Senior Babe Ruth champions, Medway has a target on its back, knowing it's going to get each team's best effort every game.

By Jared Keene/Daily News Correspondent

MEDWAY — As the defending Central Mass. Senior Babe Ruth champions, Medway has a target on its back, knowing it’s going to get each team's best effort every game.

Even more so, Medway entered Wednesday night's game with South Division foe Bellingham unbeaten, so every opponent wants to be the one to hand Medway its first loss.

And through four-and-a-half innings, Bellingham, which entered the game second in the South, looked as if it might be that team.

Bellingham's Sean Williamson was keeping Medway's bats quiet, and in the top of the fifth his team gave him a one-run lead to work with. But in the bottom of the fifth, Medway woke up with five runs, which helped them earn a 5-2 victory over Bellingham at Medway High.

“We really just try to keep things simple and do what we can to win each game one day at a time,” Medway coach Ted Coppinger said after his team moved to 11-0 on the season. “That's sort of the philosophy we go by. We have a tough-minded team and we battle for seven innings. We haven't played from behind too much, although there have been some games where we have played from behind. But the guys don't quit.

“Williamson is a very good pitcher, he's one of the better pitchers in this league, but we've got some resilient guys on this team and we had some tough at-bats tonight, especially when we trailed.”

Williamson held Medway to just one hit over the first four innings and when Bellingham (7-3-1) manufactured a run without a hit in the top of the fifth, he found himself pitching with a lead.

In the bottom of the fifth, however, Garrett Forbes led off with an opposite-field double down the right field line that seemed to spark the hosts. After a strikeout, a passed ball allowed Forbes to take third before Williamson walked Chris Watson, giving Medway runners on the corners.

With leadoff hitter Jusin Belforti up, Watson stole second before Belforti plated Forbes with an infield single to tie the game. With Watson now on third, Belforti stole second, giving Medway second and third for Nick Sheehan.

And on a 3-2 pitch, Sheehan delivered, sending a single through the left side of the infield that plated both Watson and Belforti for a 3-1 lead. Sheehan never stopped running on the play, and an overthrow to the plate allowed Sheehan to end up on third.

“I was looking for a pitch that I could drive to the outfield because I knew there was one out and I knew we just needed one to go ahead,” Sheehan said. “I got one that I liked and just found a hole. It felt good to come through in that situation, but it was Garrett's hit that really gave us some confidence.

“Hits are contagious, and we finally got going.”

Up 3-1 and with Sheehan on third, Medway then called for a suicide squeeze. On an 0-1 pitch, Cam Forbes got the bunt down and Sheehan scored easily to make it 4-1.

“We like to squeeze and it's a good play,” Coppinger said. “Sometimes when you get up by a couple, the other team gets on their heels a bit and might not expect it. If you get the bunt down, the run scores. It sounds simple, but it's a good play and that was the perfect time.

“My third base coach Steve Costello made a great call there.”

Cam Forbes, who stole second and went to third on a Jake Brodeur single, came in to score Medway's fifth run when reliever Mike Ford uncorked a wild pitch.

Lost in Medway's wild fifth inning was the solid performance of starting pitcher Seth Coppinger.

He tossed 5 1/3 innings, allowing two runs on four hits with one walk and a pair of strikeouts. He also hit two batters, but he was able to pitch out of a couple jams and keep Bellingham at bay.

“I knew they were going to be aggressive — they always are — and they always have a good team, but I knew if I just threw strikes the defense would take care of the rest,” Seth Coppinger said. “I let up a few free bases, but my defense was there every inning to help me out.”

Never miss a story

Choose the plan that's right for you.
Digital access or digital and print delivery.